Heat‐Modified Platelet‐Rich Fibrin (H‐ PRF ) Enhances Bone Regeneration Through Improved Structural Stability

AIM: Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) has been widely utilized in oral and craniofacial tissue regeneration owing to its autologous origin and favorable biological properties. However, the limited structural stability of conventional PRF restricts its space-maintaining capacity and osteogenic performance in guided bone regeneration (GBR). To address these shortcomings, a novel heat-modified PRF (Heat-H-PRF) was developed to improve the structural stability and osteogenic performance of PRF. METHODS: Human PRF was subjected to brief thermal treatment to generate Heat-H-PRF. Material microstructure was examined by scanning electron microscopy. In vitro biocompatibility and osteogenic potential were assessed using MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts through analyses of cell adhesion, proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity, matrix mineralization, and osteogenic marker expression in comparison to a commercially available collagen membrane. Bone regeneration was also evaluated in vivo using a murine critical-size calvarial defect model, with micro-computed tomography, histological staining, and immunohistochemical analysis performed at 4 weeks post-implantation. RESULTS: Heat-H-PRF demonstrated excellent cytocompatibility and significantly enhanced osteoblast-lineage cell proliferation, spreading, osteogenic differentiation, and mineralized matrix formation in vitro compared with collagen membrane. In a murine calvarial defect model, Heat-H-PRF resulted in significantly greater new bone volume, bone surface, and collagen deposition, accompanied by stronger expression of osteogenic markers Runx2, Osterix, osteocalcin, and collagen 1. Furthermore, the improved structural integrity of Heat-H-PRF suggests enhanced handling stability and potential space-maintaining properties, which may contribute to improved bone regeneration. CONCLUSION: Heat-modified PRF represents a simple and autologous biomaterial with improved handling properties and enhanced osteogenic potential. These findings suggest that Heat-H-PRF may serve as a promising adjunctive membrane-like scaffold for guided bone regeneration.